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Reading Plan 2012: The First Ten

One of my goals for this year is to read 52 books. That’s not a book a week, but 52 books in 52 weeks. A fine distinction, I know, but this way, no false expectations.

No further adieu.

1. The Chronological Bible. For starters, I’m not sure I’ve ever read every verse of every chapter of every book. Seems to me that as a confessing follower of Him, I probably ought to. I also seem to lose steam in other such reading plans I’ve attempted. I read Atlas Shrugged‘s 1100ish pages in about 3 weeks. Surely I can give this the same effort.

2. Ideas Have Consequences by Richard M. Weaver. I’m about three chapters in already, but may start over. I fit portions of this in between other reading and may start over. And probably ought to reread later this year. Come to think of that, probably ought to revisit #1 about July as well.

3. The Dog of the South by Charles Portis. I went to the library this year looking for True Grit which was in but not in the section I was checking for it (Westerns, really?). Anyway, when I couldn’t find it, I tried Gringos and discovered a Cormac McCarthy peer. Or antecedent. Or close. From the laconic tone to the myriad scripture references (Grit‘s Mattie Ross actually defends the doctrine of election!) his better efforts are a genuine feast. (Masters of Atlantis‘s priceless premise was rather weakly executed, I think, at least compared with his other work.) Looking forward to this one.

4. That Distant Land by Wendell Berry. I really liked Wendell Berry about 3 poems into his Selected Poems. Also loved A Timbered Choir. I’ve started Distant Land already; since it’s a collection of related short stories (fitting in among his novel lore), it’s one you can pick up and put down and not lose too much. Except perhaps fines payable to the public library.

6. Romans by Martin Luther. A kindly older gentleman in my church loaned me this. I’ve only peeked into it, but was prompted to some serious prayer as a result. Reformed theology, old school!

7. The Odyssey translated by Robert Fitzgerald. Did I mention my damaged attention span? Started this one, too. I’m still pondering if I should do The Iliad first. Having this one in hand will probably make the decision for me. I like the idea that Fitzgerald translated it into the English form (blank verse) likely most correlating to the original.

8. Dear Darkness by Kevin Young. Having read this poem, there was no way I wasn’t going to read the collection in which it appears. Made the missus get it for me for Christmas. And started it; it’s about half read.

9. The Wild Iris by Louise Glück. Started. It’s occasionally a little too whitebread and a bit flaccid. On the other hand, some of the poems are this good.